CHAPEL HILL – No one on the North Carolina football team has been more reliable over the past three seasons than Casey Barth.

Saturday, however, the senior from Hoggard High will be listed as “questionable” for the Tar Heels.

Interim coach Everett Withers announced before practice Thursday that Barth is suffering from a sore thigh on his kicking leg and may have his duties scaled back for UNC’s season-opener against James Madison at Kenan Stadium.

“He’s going to play, but we’re going to do some other things in the kicking game to give him a little rest,” Withers said of Barth. “We’ve got some other guys that can kick, so we’re going to let some of those other guys kick.”

Barth, who was named one of the Tar Heels’ three captains on Monday, made 86 percent of his field goals last season (19 of 22) and stands just five field goals away from breaking older brother Connor’s school record of 54.

While he’s likely to continue kicking extra points and field goals Saturday, there’s a good chance someone else will handle kickoffs in his place. There’s also a possibility he’ll be held back from attempting long field goals to keep from putting added strain on his leg.

Redshirt freshman Thomas Moore would be the most likely candidate for those jobs, although true freshman Miller Synder and holder Trace Jones were also working on their kicks at practice Thursday while Barth stayed back in the training room and received treatment.

Withers said he’s not sure how or when Barth suffered the injury, but added that he’s not worried about his All-ACC candidate for the long haul.

“He’s just been sore,” Withers said. “It’s been a deal that is ongoing, but he’ll be fine.”